Dana Meeting House
Encyclopedia
Dana Meeting House is a historic meeting house
on Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, New Hampshire
.
The meeting house was built in 1800 by a Free Will Baptist congregation after the majority of the townspeople voted that the town's tax-subsidized New Hampton Town House
would be used by the Congregationalists. The Baptist congregation originally met in homes until its meeting house was completed, and the early congregation was opposed to a paid ministry. Originally, services were conducted in rotation by three men: Simeon Dana, a physician, Josiah Magoon, a Revolutionary War veteran, and Thomas Perkins, a legislator. The best known was Dr. Dana who regularly conducted Sunday worship services from 1803 to 1853 and became the namesake of the church. Notable early preachers included Benjamin Randall
and John Colby
.
Church services were held on Sundays throughout the year until 1860, when regular Free Will Baptist services were discontinued. Various summer services were held in the meeting house after the 1860s. Rev. Adoniram Judson Gordon
, a prominent minister who was a native of New Hampton, often preached at the meeting house during the summers. Gordon went on to found Gordon College
. The meeting house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984 and contains box pews and a few unboxed pews.
The Dana Church was founded Jan. 6, 1800 at the home of Capt. Peter Hanaford. Josiah Magoon was chosen as one of three messengers to the Quarterly Meeting at Canterbury
. In April 1802, Brother Magoon (Josiah, Sr.) was one of three men appointed to “take oversight in building the meetinghouse.” The building was first used in Dec. 1802, during the ordination of the first elders and deacons, including the Elder Josiah and Deacon James Huckins.
Josiah’s son, Stephen, was the cabinetmaker who made the pews and finished the interior of the church. Elder Magoon was an itinerant preacher in Maine, Vermont, and mostly in New Hampshire. Among his descendants were several noted ministers, educators, architect, politicians, and lawyers. He did not preach much after his 80th birthday. Stephen Sleeper Magoon’s house is across the street from the Dana Meeting house. Stephen was a farmer, country merchant, and held various offices in New Hampton.
On March 9, 1801, the first town meeting was held in this meeting house. The names of many of the founding families are still on plaques on each of the pews in the meeting house, of where they were to sit.
Meeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
on Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, New Hampshire
New Hampton, New Hampshire
New Hampton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,165 at the 2010 census. A winter sports resort area, New Hampton is home to George Duncan State Forest and to the New Hampton School, a private preparatory school established in 1821.The primary village in...
.
The meeting house was built in 1800 by a Free Will Baptist congregation after the majority of the townspeople voted that the town's tax-subsidized New Hampton Town House
New Hampton Town House
New Hampton Town House is a historic meeting house at the junction of Town House Road and Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, New Hampshire....
would be used by the Congregationalists. The Baptist congregation originally met in homes until its meeting house was completed, and the early congregation was opposed to a paid ministry. Originally, services were conducted in rotation by three men: Simeon Dana, a physician, Josiah Magoon, a Revolutionary War veteran, and Thomas Perkins, a legislator. The best known was Dr. Dana who regularly conducted Sunday worship services from 1803 to 1853 and became the namesake of the church. Notable early preachers included Benjamin Randall
Benjamin Randall
Benjamin Randall was the main organizer of the Freewill Baptists in the northeastern United States.In 1749 Benjamin Randall was born into a New England sea captain's family. Randall experienced a conversion to Christianity in 1770 through the influence of George Whitefield. Randall served in the...
and John Colby
John Colby
John Colby was an evangelist and itinerant preacher in the early Free Will Baptist movement in New England and various other American states....
.
Church services were held on Sundays throughout the year until 1860, when regular Free Will Baptist services were discontinued. Various summer services were held in the meeting house after the 1860s. Rev. Adoniram Judson Gordon
Adoniram Judson Gordon
Adoniram Judson Gordon was an American Baptist preacher, writer, composer, and founder of Gordon College and Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary.-Life:...
, a prominent minister who was a native of New Hampton, often preached at the meeting house during the summers. Gordon went on to found Gordon College
Gordon College (Massachusetts)
Gordon College is a liberal arts college located on the former Princemere estate in Wenham, Massachusetts, northeast of Beverly. Founded by Baptist minister A. J...
. The meeting house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984 and contains box pews and a few unboxed pews.
The Dana Church was founded Jan. 6, 1800 at the home of Capt. Peter Hanaford. Josiah Magoon was chosen as one of three messengers to the Quarterly Meeting at Canterbury
Canterbury, New Hampshire
Canterbury is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,352 at the 2010 census. Canterbury is home to Ayers State Forest and Shaker State Forest. On the last Saturday in July, the town hosts the annual .- History :...
. In April 1802, Brother Magoon (Josiah, Sr.) was one of three men appointed to “take oversight in building the meetinghouse.” The building was first used in Dec. 1802, during the ordination of the first elders and deacons, including the Elder Josiah and Deacon James Huckins.
Josiah’s son, Stephen, was the cabinetmaker who made the pews and finished the interior of the church. Elder Magoon was an itinerant preacher in Maine, Vermont, and mostly in New Hampshire. Among his descendants were several noted ministers, educators, architect, politicians, and lawyers. He did not preach much after his 80th birthday. Stephen Sleeper Magoon’s house is across the street from the Dana Meeting house. Stephen was a farmer, country merchant, and held various offices in New Hampton.
On March 9, 1801, the first town meeting was held in this meeting house. The names of many of the founding families are still on plaques on each of the pews in the meeting house, of where they were to sit.